By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Willard was close, so close, to playing in the Class 4 state volleyball championship game.
The Tigers were close, so close, to taking third place the next day.
Willard coach Jamalee Hancock won’t let the thought of what could’ve been overshadow a season of thrilling accomplishments for her young squad.
“All that runs your mind over and over and you can kind of go crazy thinking about the what-ifs,” Hancock said. “I’m trying to focus on all the positives from last night, today and our season as a whole. They accomplished so much more than anyone expected.”
Willard went 3-3 in Friday’s round-round competition. Had the Tigers swept a St. Teresa’s Academy team that ended up going 1-5, Willard could’ve played in a tiebreaker set for a spot in Saturday’s Class 4 title game.
On Saturday, Willard fell in three hard-fought sets (25-14, 21-25, 25-23). St. Teresa’s Academy prevailed in the MSHSAA Class 4 3rd place game at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
“We know we can compete with every team here,” Hancock said. “No one wanted to finish fourth, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that these girls had a fantastic season.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
To make it this far, Willard – which has just two seniors – ended Ozark’s streak of nine straight final four appearances by winning in the quarterfinals.
“I’ll be honest, I thought we were going to lose to Ozark,” said Willard senior Daisie Cruse. “I just wanted to beat them by one set. Our team… they just surprised me. I’m really surprised and proud we got this far.”
Trailing 22-17 in the third set, Willard scored four straight to get as close as 22-21.
Sophomore Payton Van Veen had a match-high 14 kills for Willard. Maddy Bushnell added nine kills. Setter Ashton Wildermuth issued 34 assists.
The Tigers recorded 66 digs as a team, led by Kindall Smithson’s 18.
“They fought so hard in every set. I couldn’t have been more proud of them,” Hancock said. “We came out a little flat tonight. This wasn’t our best that we could play.”
Cruse and Krystalynn Melton are Willard’s only two seniors. The departing Cruse thinks Willard has more success ahead in 2019.
“We’re going to state next year,” Cruse said. “These girls, they’ll do fine without me. They’re going to do amazing things.”
Added Hancock: “(This is) the best team I’ve coached at Willard in 19 years. As far as every position, it’s a high-level skill player. Some years, you have one or two weaknesses, but not this group.”
Hancock’s high school teammate at West Plains, Tammy Miller, won the Class 3 championship with Rogersville in the match preceding Willard’s on Saturday.
